Motor-driven water ski towing device



Nov. 6, 1962 J. c. MOORE MOTOR-DRIVEN WATER SKI TOWING D EVICE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR James C. Moore Nov. 6, 1962 J. c. MOOREMOTOR-DRIVEN WATER SKI TOWING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20,1961 INVENTOR James C. Moore ATTORNEY United, S ates Paten 055C? H. 7 v.H -MOTOR-DRIVEN WATER SKITOWING DEVICE James C. Moore ltltltllBrockbank, Dallas, Tex.

ThisinVention' relates to ski towing devices for use'i'n aquatic sports,and it has particular reference to a buoyant, streamlined, motor driventractor device for towing skis, or other aquatic devices, such asaquaplanes, and the like, and the principal object of the inventionresides in the provision of a tractor device having asc'alcd hull,"an'ddriven by an internal c'onibustio'rrm'otor arranged within the'hull, andhaving an' elongated handle rigidly connected to' thehull whereby thedevice" is adapted to be controlled ty Another object of theinventio'nis thatot providing a tractor device of the character describedin whichthe bottom of the hull i substantially flat across its forward portion,'witha recessed rear portion to facilitate arranging the propeller'shaftthrough the botto'infand'to reduce drag.

' A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of awater tractor device in'which'the forward or nose portion of the hull iscurved upwardly to enable the device to plane and pass more easily'overwaves, and obstacles in its path, and in which the'for'wa'rd' sides ofthe hull are angled to provide a soft chineetfect, allowing for atop ofmaximum width while minimizing the bottom width.

nother water tractor having ahu'll having a unique design, especiallyadapted to easy control and safe operation at high speeds, having ashielded'propellerfor' the protection of a skier being towed by thedevice, and'pr'otecting the propeller from floating debris, and otherobstacles in the wai r... M p Broadly, the invention contemplatethe'provision of an' aquatic tractor which is of'light' construction,yet durable, and possessing novel control features adapting the'same' tostable streamlined operation with a minimum of frictional drag andcavitation, due to its tendency to ride higher in the water and atincreased inclination at the rear.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects willbecome manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection withthe appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the invention showing the broad forwardportion and narrow rear portion of the hull, the handle and control'devices, and showing the motor cover broken away to illustrate themotor.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the invention showing the steppedbottom surface, the propeller and propeller housing, and showirig'them'otorand other parts in dotted lines.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the invention, showing theupwardly curved bottom, the angular sides, and showing the propeller andpropeller housing.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the invention illustratingthe driven gears, the flexible coupling on the propeller shaft, theclutch and water pumps, and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective bottom view of the hull, showing the offsetbottom, the propeller and propeller housing.

The invention is designed to provide an aqua-tractor which is capable oftowing a person on skis at relatively high speeds with safety, having aconvenient and dependable system of controls by which the device iseasily maneuvered, and sufliciently buoyant to remain afloat, even whenupset, without flooding the motor compartment, but automaticallystopping the motor.

The invention primarily comprises a hull which is objectof'the inventionisthatof providinga prieferably formed of plastic, or other' lightmaterial, and has forward and aft 'portio ns ll and The forward portion11 hascur'ved sides 13 and 14 and a rou nd ed nose is, defining asemi-ellipsoid, and the bottom lo is curved gradually upwardlyto thenose the transverse surface being planar, thus presenting a minimum ofresistance as the tractor moves ov'er'th e surface of the water II M Therear or aftportion 12 of the hull l0 is hr'te'wr" than the forwardportion 11 as shown particularly in FIGURE 11, defining an oifset 1 7 oneach'side, and is tapered rearwardly to the stern 18' which is angleddown wardly and outwardly, as'shown in FIGURES land 2. The sides 13 andra t the forward onies ii of the hair 16 are angular, inclining inwardlytoward the bottom 16, as shown 3, for; further streamlining thestructure and enhancing its rnaneuverability time water: The sides 19and 20 of the rear or aft portion 12 are also angularlyinclined 'towardthe bottom 21 of this portion or the hull in, as shown i'n FI G UR'ES 2"and '5.

Thebottoms 16 and 21 respectively, ofthe forward and aft portions ofthehull ltl are indifferent plane s, as apparent 2, 4 and 5, safdirset 22bein g for med transversely of the hull 10 afatight angleithe reto. Theoffset provides for theekt ensio n of the propeller shaftfiii rearwardlybeneath the bottom 21 of the aft portion iz'r the hull 10 and,due to thenarrower dimension of the aft portion 12, facilitates the m ove rnent ofthe tractor in starting, as by pushing down on the handle 2 4 whichisadjustably attached to the stern 18, in the manner sh own in 2. Thehandle 24 .will be presently described i g a r d v A t. V.

Theforward portion of the hull It) is hollow and is formed with aplurality "of internial pa rtitions 25 to strengthen the same, as shownin dotted lines in FIG- URES l and The partitions ar e arr a nged todefine a a plurality of small cells to enhance the buoyancy of thetractor, and each cell has an opening 26 in the longitudinalpartitionsZS to lighten thehull 10, as show i1 dotted lines in 2., sucharrangemennhowever, is optional and may assume a variety of formsfasdesired: An internal combustion motor2 7 is supported in its compartment28 in the forward portion 11 of the hull 10, and is enclosedbya hatchcover 29 in the top 3tl of th hull 10, a shown in FIGURE 1 andin dottedliiies in FIGURE Z. The motor is preferably ofthe four cyan der typealthough other types ofmotors may be employed, A battery 31 is arrangedin the motor compartmeritfan'd forwardly of the motor 27, providing foran electrical syste m for starting the motor or for suitableillumination for lamps carried by the tractor, Attached to the motor 27on a panel 32 are an ampmeter 33, a starter button 3 and ignition switch35,, 'i i i V I The motor exhaust pipe 36 has its outlet 37 in one sideof the top 30 and is provided with a flapper type of closure 38 hingedthereto and capable of closing the exhaust 36 to prevent flooding whenthe tractor is upset in the water, or against spray. An air supply tube39 is arranged forwardly of the motor compartment to admit air thereto.The tube 39 is open to the top 30 of the hull 10 and is covered by ahood 4% to resist any water running into the motor compartment eitherfrom a spray or when the tractor is upset. The fuel tank 41 is arrangedin the hollow aft portion 12 of the hull 1t} and has a filled openingcovered by a cap 42 on the top 36, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Attached to the rear of the motor 27 is a housing 43 which encloses thetransmission gears, as shown in FIG- URE 4. The main shaft, 44 of themotor 27 is journalled in non-friction bearings 45 and 46 and has a gear47 thereon whichis meshed with a reduction gear 48 on a '13 stub shaft49 journalled at each end in bearings t} and 51. The gear 48 is meshedwith a gear 52 on a stub shaft 53 mounted in bearings 54 and S5.

A sleeve 56 is keyed to the outer end of the stub shaft 53 which has atubular flexible coupling 57 thereon connected at its opposite end to asimilar sleeve 53 keyed to the inner end of the propeller shaft 23 whichis supported in a thrust bearing 59 in a stuffing box 6:), attached tothe offset wall 22, and extends rearwardly along the bottom 21 of theaft portion of the hull It} to be supported near its outer end in abearing support 61 in a conical shroud 62 which surrounds the propeller63.

The gear 52 is mounted for free rotation on the shaft 53 and has aclutch face 64 on its inner side engageable by a friction type clutchmember 65 which is slidably keyed to the inner portion of the shaft 53and is operable thereon with respect to the clutch face 64 by a fork 66on a shaft 67 to which is connected a lever (not shown) by which thefork shaft 67 is oscillated by a cable 68 arranged along the handle 24and operated by a lever 6? on one of the handle bars 7%, as shown inFIGURES l, 2 and 3.

By the arrangement just described the motor 27 can be started withoutturning the propeller 63 since the clutch can be disengaged, thusinsuring the safety of the operator. It is desirable that the motor 27cannot be started without removing the hatch cover 29 to minimize thepossibility of an explosion through the accumulation of gas fumes, andother hazards. Another cable 71 is arranged along the handle 24 forcontrolling the speed of the motor 27, and has a lever 72 attached tothe handle bar 73. The cable 71 is connected to the carburetor controllever in the usual manner.

Attached to the gear housing 43 is a pump housing 74 having separatecompartments 75 and 76, each having a pump rotor operating thereindesignated, respectively 77 and 78, and on a common stub shaft 79, oneend of which has a driven connection So with the outer end of the mainshaft 44 of the motor 27. A suitable packing 81 is provided about theshaft 79 to seal the compartment 76 which is separated from thecompartment 75 by a partition 82.

The compartment 76 has inlet and outlet ducts 33 and 84 for thecirculation of water through the cooling system (not shown) of the motor27. Water i pumped by the rotor 78 from outside the hull through theinlet conduit 83 and the motor cooling system to be dischargedexteriorly of the hull 10. The opposite rotor 77 operates to pump outthe compartment in the aft portion 12 which might leak thereinto, or themotor compartment in the forward portion 11. Inlet and outlet conduitsS5 and 36 are connected into the compartment 77 of the pump housing 74.

The conical shroud 62 embracing the propeller 63 is attached to the rearof the bottom 21 of the aft portion 12 of the hull 10 and is flaredforwardly, having its forward annular rim 87 inclined downwardly andrearwardly, as best illustrated in FIGURE 2, for freer action in thewater.

The shroud 62 serves to scoop the water, protect the propeller 63against obstructions, and to protect the operator fiom injury by thepropeller. The shroud 62 also aids in eliminating cavitation at highspeeds.

The shroud 62 has a series of integral radial vanes 88 in its smallerrear open end, and these are set at angles which oppose the angularincidence of the blades of the propeller 63 and function to counteractthe torque of the propeller. Another obvious function of the shroud 62is that of holding down the rear portion of the tractor to cause it toplane at high speeds, as indicated in FIG- URE 2 in which the brokenline W designates the water line.

The handle 24 is hinged at 89 to a bracket 90 attached to the rearinclined wall 18 of the hull 1i), and is capable of being folded overthe top of the latter for compactness in transportation and storage. Thehandle 24 may also be adjusted angularly and longitudinally, and lockedin the desired positions by a knob 91 on the underside of the handle barassembly. A speedometer 92 may be arranged in the handle bar assembly,if desired, as shown in FIGURE 1.

The mechanical features and structural design of the invention, asherein described, are obviously capable of certain changes andmodifications, by persons skilled in the art, without departing from thespirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a water tractor for towing Water skis, and the like, having a buoyanthull having forward and aft portions, and having an offset in the bottomof said hull intermediate its ends whereby the undersurface of said aftportion is in a plane above that of said forward section, theimprovements comprising, in combination, a hull having offsets on eachside thereof adjacent to the offset in the bottom thereof whereby thesaid aft portion is narrower and shallower than said forward portion, amotor in said forward portion having a propeller shaft driven thereby,the said shaft extending through said offset in the bottom of said hulland rearwardly thereof beneath the bottom of said aft portion, apropeller on said shaft, a shroud attached to the bottom of said aftportion, and rearwardly thereof embracing said propeller and said shaft,and a handle for controlling said hull in motion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,705,133 Oertz Mar. 12, 1929 1,795,588 Wilson Mar. 10, 1931 2,030,375Kort Feb. 11, 1936 2,397,683 Nelson Apr. 12, 1946 2,914,018 Schachner etal Nov. 24, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 822,466 France Sept. 20, 1937 488,440Great Britain July 7, 1938

